Road sanding machine



E. T. STEWART' ROAD sANDING MACHINE sept. 23, 1941.' l

3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 2o, 1939 SePt-23f1941- E YT. STEWART 2,256,655 l ROAD SANDING MACHINE Filed 1366.720, .1939 vs Sheets-sheet 2 V @uw fnvewfor I nl M l A Zarveys SePt- 23, 1941. E. T. sTEwART 2,256,655

' ROAD SANDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 20, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 Fans.

WIr/ab/e 5 eed fans.

Vr/ab/e Speed Fans.

Pad/afar lv/ve ornfeys' Patented Sept. 23, 1941 ROAD SANDING MACHINE Edward T. Stewart, St. Paul, Minn., assigner of one-half to Sol Bublick, St. Paul, Minn.

Application December zo, 193s, semi No. 310,163 s claims. '(ol. 27s-s) My invention relates to road working machinery :and particularly to machinery for distributing granular material, such as sand, over a road surface. desirable to have. power operated machinery for progressing along a roadway and distributing granular material such as sand over the surface thereof. It is also desirable that such machinery may be adjustable as to the width of roadway over which sand will be distributed and the depth to which the lsand will be laid on the roadway.

It is an object of my invention to provide a machine meeting the above described requirements.

Another object is -to provide such a machine having rotary means for distributing sand over a road surface and means for starting and stopping the delivery of sand to the rotary means quicklyV and in immediate response to operation of a control element for the means.

Another object is to provide such a machine wherein a sand controlling valve and a rotary distributor consist of one integral member which may be raised and lowered to stop and start distribution of sand and rotated for throwing sand.

Yet another object is to provide such a machinev wherein the speeds of the rotary sand distributing means and of apparatus for delivering sand to the distributor means may be each varied independently of the other.

Yet another object is to provide such a machine wherein conveying equipment for sand is constructed to be disposed symmetrically of a vehicle included in the machineiand to deliver sand tothe rotary distributing means simultaneously from opposite sides thereof.

A further object is to provide such a machine including means for breaking lumps of material which may be included with a supply of granular material.

A still further object is to provide such a machine so constructed as to be automatically protected against damage from improper operation or unforseen conditions.

Yet another object is to provide such a machine having a granular material containing hopper and apparatus for raising granular material and depositing the same in the hopper.`

A still further object is to provide such a machine of simple, rugged, compact, easily operable,

and inexpensive construction.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the In large road-construction jobs, it is accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the views, and, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top view of a machine including a motor vehicle and an embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a rear view showing material elevating apparatus associated with the hopper of the machine;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, as indicated by the arrows, and omitting certain structure to provide a top view of the combination sand distributor and valve;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 1, as indicated by the arrows, to show details of material crushing means included in my machine; and

Fig. '1 is a horizontal sectional view showing details of material conveying apparatus included in the machine and including a diagrammatic representation of the mechanical power supply and transmission apparatus associated with the power driven parts of the machine.

Referring to the drawings apparatus constituting an embodiment of my invention is shown in association with a wheeled vehicle which consists of a motor truck T having a frame I0, front wheels I I and rear wheels I2. The truck is preferably of the type known'as the cab-over-engine type and includes an operators cab I3. To support apparatus arranged in accordance with my invention I provide a frame I4 niounted on top of the frame I0 of the truck. For receiving and containing a supply of granulated material such as sand, cinders, or the like, I provide a hopper I5 mounted on the frame I4 rearwardly of the cab I3. The hopper I5 has in the bottom thereof two discharge outlets I5a situated adjacent opposite sides of the hopper I5 as shown in Fig. 1. The bottom walls of the hopper I5 slope toward the outlets I'5a so as to convey granulated material thereto by gravity. The portion lower portion I8 and at respective sides lof the truck T into the lower portion I 8 to constitute Vducts-for delivering material to the lower por- `tuting an outlet for granular material.

Y Associated with the aperture I6b is a body I1, the lower portion of which consists of a disc I'Ia disposed in a horizontal plane. On the upper side of the disc I 'Ia means is provided for throwing granular material received thereon through the aperture IBb radially of the disc Ila responsive to rotation of the body I1. The material handling means of the body I'I consists of upstanding portions I'Ib formed on the `upper side of the disc I'I and having thereon surfaces inclining in a direction extending upwardly and circumferentially relative to the disc I'la. The body I1 is intended to be rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed from above and the inclined surfaces of the upstanding portions I 'Ib of the body l'I are inclined in such direction relative to the direction of rotation that the inclined surfaces will tend to impart an upwardly directed component of force to material engaged thereby. Rotation of the body I1 will of course, impart a radially outwardly directed component offorce to the handled material through centrifugal action. y

Means is provided through which rotation may be imparted to the body I'I, the rotation being about the vertical axis of the body Il. A vertical shaft I8 is provided for this purpose and at its lower end is connected to the body Il in nonrotatable relation therewith. The medial portion of the shaft i8 is journalled in a suitable aperture formed in the upper side of the lower portion I6 of the casing C. The upper portion of the shaft I8 is journalled in a bracket I9 mounted on the forward end of the truck T.

Arrangements are made whereby the body I1 may be shifted vertically between an upwardmost position such as the position thereof indifcated in Fig. 3 and a position somewhat lower than the position of Fig. 3. For this purpose the shaft I8 is free for vertical displacement between limits,* the upper limit beingA determined by engagement of the marginal portion of the disc IIa of the body I1 with the lower portion I 6 of the casing C as indicated in Fig.- 3. The lower limit of movement of the shaft I8 and body I1 is ldetermined by a vcollar 20 situated on the shaft Iabove the upper side of the lower portion I6 of the casing C. The collar 20 is secured' on the shaft I8 by suitable means such as a set screw 20a. A washer 2I is'placed on the upper side of the lower portion I 8 of the casing C in encircling relation with the shaft I8 for engagement by the collar 2l)` when the shaft I8 is at its lower limit of longitudinal movement. For use in rotatably driving the shaft I8 a bevelled gear 22 is mounted on the upper portion of the shaft I8 and it is keyed thereto so as to be longitudinally shiftable relative thereto and yet non-rotatably associated therewith. -A second bevelled gear 23 is meshed with the bevelled gear 22 and is mounted on the forward end of a shaft 2l, which extends horizontally and longitudinally of the truck T toward the rear en d of the truck T. Control means for raising and lowering Ithe shaft I8 and the rotary distributing valve body I 'I is provided. For this purpose the upper end of the `shaft I8 is provided with a shifting collar I8b having/associated .therewith a bell crank I8c one each consist of a screw 3| arm of which is engaged in the shifting collar I 8b and the other arm of which may be connected through a suitable link I8d to suitable control means (not shown) to be provided inside the cab I3 in a location accessible to the driver.

The body I1 when in the upwardmost shifted position thereof shown in Fig. 3 constitutes a valve for closing the aperture IGb to prevent discharge of granular material downwardly therethrough. When the shaftland the body I'I are in their lowermost positions, granular material may discharge through the aperture I6b onto the body I1 wherebyrotation of the body I1 will cause the discharged material to be thrown radially outwardly of the bodyY I1 to be deposited on a surface over which the truck T is traveling.

Means to be described is provided for delivering granular material into the upper portions of the duct portions I6a of the casing C. For protection against damage to the casing C and parts.

lconnected through pivot pins 25a to elements 28 "carrying the pins 25a and secured to the casing by suitable means such as the screws 21. The doors 25 are normally closed to prevent unnecessary loss of material therepast. Resilient means yieldingly holding the doors 25 infclosed position are provided. 'Ihis means may consist of elongated elements 28 having heads 28a at their upper ends and being screw threadedly mounted at their lower ends on the casing C at points covered by the marginal doors 25, said marginal portions being notched to accommodate t e /elongated elements 28. Helical -compression rings 29 are mounted on the medial portions of and are dimensioned to press at respective ends against the head 28a and the free edge marginal portions oi the doors 25. Washers 30 are interposed between the lower ends of the springs 29 and the marginal portions of/ the doors 25.

For delivery o1' granular material from the hopper I5 screw type conveyors are provided extending along respective opposite sides of the truck T from the respective' opper outlets lia to the upperportions of the duct portions I8a ofthe casing C. 'I'he screw conveyor devices formed on a shaft ila which extends horizontally and longitudinally of the truck T. The forward end of each screw shaft is journalled in a suitable aperture formed in the front of the casing C vas indicated in Fig. 7. To form bearings for the forward end of the shaft 3Ia the inner side'of the front of the casing C is provided with a iianged annular bearing element 32 secured thereto. 'I'he forward end of each shaft sla 1s provided with a couar of the conveyor screws is associated with the bottom of the hopper in portions adjoining the outlet lia to `form a material receiving box below the outlet I5a. The rer end of each Aof the screw'shafts Sla extends portions of the free ends of the the elongated elements 28 through the rear end of the corresponding housing 34 which is suitably apertured for that purpose. At the point where the screw shafts vlla extend through the rear ends of the housings 34 bearing elements 35 for the screw shafts 3|a are 5 mounted on the rear ends of the housing 34.

Means is provided in conjunction with the above described screw conveyor apparatus for crushing lumps of material which may be included with granular material placed in the l0 hopper |5. For this purpose portions of the hopper bottom and of the casing 34 associated with the upper half of the material receiving end) of each conveyor screw 3| are constructed to have larger dimensions than the upper h alf of l5 the conveyor screw 3| at points immediately adjoining the forward sides of the respective hopper outlets |5a. These increased dimension portions 34a of the hopper bottom and conveyor screw housing 34 are steadily diminished in dimension 20 to resemble in shape half of'a truncated cone. the forward end of which is of `such dimensions as to match the diameter of the forward portion of the housing 34. As shown in Fig. 6, material engaging bars 36and 31 are secured to the in- 25 a rightangled cross section. As material travels 35 through the hopper discharge apertures |5a to the material receiving ends of the conveyor screws 3| lumps of material will be carried by the peripheral portions of the conveyor screws 3| against the lump breaking bars 36 and 31 and 40 will be rolledagainst these bars forcibly as a result of the rotation of the conveyor screws 3|. This action will crush the lumps to sufficiently small pieces that these pieces will readily travel along the conveyor screw 3| and may be success- 45 fully handled by the material throwing body I1.

To provide power for rotating the conveyor screw 3| and the material throwing body l1 an engine 38 having a radiator 36a associated therewith is mounted on the frame |4 beneath the 50 rear portion of the hopper l5, as shown in Figs., 2 and 7. Referring to Fig. '1 the engine 36 is provided with a main clutch 39 through which the engine may drive a main power shaft 46.

A clutch 4| is mounted on the shaft 40 for de- 55 livering rotative power to the rotary valve and material throwing body I1. The clutch" 4| carries thereon a sprocket 42 connected through a sprocket chain 43 to a. sprocket 44 carried by a power input shaft 45 of a variable speed trans- 60 mission A. A output shaft 46 of the variable speed transmission A carries a sprocket 41 connected through a sprocket chain 41a to a sprocket 41b carried by shaft 48 which is journalled in bearings 49. The shaft 48 is provided 65 with a bevelled gear 5D meshed with another bevelled gear 5| which is carried by the rear end of the previously described rotary valve drive shaft 24.

Means is provided for delivery of rotary me- 70 chanical power to the two screw conveyor shafts' 3|a. A clutch 52 is mounted on the main power shaft 40 and carries a sprocket 53 connected through a sprocket chain 54 to a sprocket 55 carried on a power input shaft 56 of a. variable 75 The bars 36 and 31 extend for- As shown in Fig. 6, the bars 36 at 30 speed transmission B. A .power output shaft 51 of the variable speed transmission B carries a v sprocket 56 connected through a sprocket chain 56 to a sprocket ,66 carried by a power input shaft 6|a of aspeed reducing transmission unit 6I. The speed reducing transmission is equipped with a power output shaft 6|b which extends through the speed reducing unit 6| and is connected through overload shear pin devices 62 and shafts 63 to clutches 64. :The right-hand end of the power output shaft 6|b is supported in a bearing 65. The power output ends of the clutches 64 are connected to shafts 66 supported l in bearings 61 and each carries a bevel gear 66 meshed with a bevel gear 69 carried Ion the rear end of the corresponding one of the screw conveyor shafts ila.

The clutches 4|, v52, and 64 may be of any suitable conventional construction and preferably are of the friction type. The speed reducing transmission unit 6| may be any suitable conventional speed reducingI gear box unit. The variable speed transmissions A and B may be of conventional form, the only requirement being that they be constructed to afford various speed ratios.

At the rear of the truck T I provide means for elevating granular material and delivering! the same into the hopper I5. For this purpose I provide a frame work 16 including inwardly facing channel members 10a for guiding rollers disposed between the flanges of the channels. In the upper portion of the frame 10 I provide at respective sides of the frame 10 members 1| having therein inwardly vfacing grooves 1|a defining upwardly and forwardly curved branches of the spaces between the flanges of the channel members 10a. I provide a traveling bucket 12 having rollers 13 at respective sides thereof working in the grooves provided by the channel members 16a and the member 1| as'indicated in Fig. 2. Pivots 12a extend between the sides of the bucket 12 and a vertically movable/ frame 14.

Rollers 15 are mounted on frame 14 andengage the rear side of the channel membersv 10a. Another pair of roliers15a on frame 14 ride in the channels. The member 1| is arranged to provide`surfaces 1lb constituting upwardly and for-- wardly curved branches of the outer faces of the rear flanges of channels 10a, whereby the rollers 15 and 15a follow the rear sides of'fthe channel members 16a. If the bucket 12 is lled with material while disposed in its lowermost I position, as shown in Fig. 2. and then is raised upwardly and moved further so that rollers 13 follow the curved grooves and the curved surface 1|b of the member 1|, the contents of the bucket 12 will be dumped into the hopper |5.` `The location of the pivots toward the rear of the 11 are mounted on the rear side of the member 14. The cable 16 passes over the pulleys 11, as shown in Fig. 4,- and extends as shown to the upper portion of the frame 10. )The -parallel portions of the cable 18 then pass forwardly over pulleys 13 and then downwardly onto respective hoisting drums8|| mounted on a shaft 6| which is journalled in bearings 6|a. The

fr'ee end s `of the cables 18 are secured to there-- spective hoisting'drums 80. Obviously, rotation of the hoisting drums in a direction to wind the cables 18 thereon will raise the bucket 12"for elevation'land dumping no f Amaterial contained 5 within-the bucket v12.4 The shafty 8I is provided with a sprocket82 connected through a sprocket chain 88 to a sprocket 84 mounted on a. combined more, in connection with the twin conveyors the clutch and brakev device 85 carried by the main described construction' enables a balance to, be powerl shaft 40., Obviously, the clutch 85 may 10 obtained between the respective sides of the vebe utilized to connectthe engine'38 to the hoisthic1e with regard to the weight and buik of the ing drums 80 for hoisting of the buckets 12. The conveyors and'their housings. The third advanclutch 85 may be,l of conventional construction tage is -that much more even supply of granular and include suitable brake means f conventional material through the aperture I8 to the rotary 'form for holding the'buckets 12 in an elevated l5 distributor body vI1 may be obtained due to the position and also for controlling descent of the fact that material is delivered at diametrically buckets ,'12 while the hoisting drums 88 are, ofi opposite sides of. the aperture I8b simultaneously. course, disconnected from the main power shaft l It 'is apparent that I have invented a novel, 48 by means of the clutch 85. f highly eillcient, easily and exibly controllable, In Fig. 8 I have shown kan alternative means 20 and relatively inexpensive type of road sanding for elevating granular material andfdepositing machine capable of operationfor sanding large the ysame in the hopper I4. For this purpose I 'providea frame 85 carrying-thereon upwardly and forwardly inclined members 81 on the upper screw conveyors are several. First, granular material lmay be delivered from respective portions of the bottom of the hopper I5. Second, the use of two conveyors reduces the size thereof 'whereby they may be extended along the` sides of -a e truck without increasing the Iover-al1 width of the l'machine to an undesirable extent. Furtherthickness of sand being delivered over a controlled width of roadway.

and lower ends of which are sprockets 88 carry- 25 It will, 0f `Cellrse, be understood that various changes maybe made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the variousparts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What isclaimed is:

' 1. Road sanding apparatus comprising, a wheeled vehicle, a casing on said vvehicle for containing granular material and having a circular aperture in the lower side thereof, a'circular body disposed vbelow said aperture in co-axial relation therewith, a vertical shaft disposed coaxially of said body in non-rotatable relation therewith, means for rotating said shaft, means for shifting ing an `endless conveyor chain I89 on which'conveyor cups or buckets 80 ,are mounted as indicated in Fig. 8. 'Ihe endless chain conveyor is of conventional construction and may be provided with suitable driving mechanism -associated with the clutch 85. With this type of elevating apparatus the truck T may be backed upso that the lower portion of the chain conveyor is pushed` into a pile of granulated material, whereupon the buckets 90 will pick up the material and deliver 35 the same tothe hopper I5. f' i Suitable control means for the clutches 89, 52, 4I, 84 and 85 may be extendedintothe cab I3 of the truck T in any suitable manner and asso- Said body vertically between respective' pOSiiliOnS ciated in the truck cab I8 with suitable shiftable 40 thereof so that said body, when in itsV upwardcontrol elements. Similarly, controls for the vari- 1110512 shifted position, Will eloseiaid aperture, and able speed transmission devices A and B may be upwardly projecting structure o'n the upper Side vextended to points within the truck cab I3. of said body slightly smaller in diameter than By means of che variable speed transmission desaid aperture and having inclined surfaces there- Ovice A the rotatingcombination valve and dis- 011 extending upwardly and .eirellmferentially in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation tributor head I 1 may be rotated at various speeds Vand the speeds of rotation will determine the distan'ce to which granular material will be thrown by the bodyy I-1 and accordingly will determine the width of roadway over which granular material may be distributed by the rotary distributor body I1. `The conveyor screws 8l may be operated at various speeds by manipulating the variable speed transmission device B so that the rate at which granular material is delivered to the rotary valve and distributor body I1 may be adJusted to suit conditions. The rate of delivery of material to the distributor body I14 will in cooperation with the rate o'f travel of the truck T and the rotating,y speed of the distributor body I1 determine the thickness to which granular material will be laid on a road surface by my machine.

It is to be noted that the valve and distributor body I1 is closely associated with the discharge aperture I 8b of the casing C and that substantially instantaneous star-ting and stopping of delivery of granular material to a road surface may be eiiectedr by lowering and raising of the valve and distributor body I1. I'his is of particular value when using the machine to sand icy streets where it is desirable toaccurately and as near as continuously as possible start and stop delivery of .sand atv the ends of specific lengths of roadway.

The advantages alforded Ybyj using the twin 75 of said body. j

2. Road sanding apparatus comprising, a wheeled vehicle, a casing on said vehicle for containing granular material and having a circular aperture in the lower side thereof, power operated means for continuously delivering granular material into said casing, a circular body disposed means for varying the relative speeds of said material delivering means and said circular body means on the yupper side of said body for throwing granular material received thereon through said aperture radially of said body responsive to rotation thereof, said casing having an aperture in the upper portion thereof, Aan outwardly deflectable 'closure element normally covering said last mentioned aperture, and yieldable means norrelation with said last mentioned aperture.

3. Road sanding apparatus comprising, a wheeled vehicle, a casing on said vehicle for containing granular material and having a circular material outlet aperture in the lower side thereof, power operated means for continuously delivering granular material into said casing, a circular body disposed below said aperture in coaxial relation therewith, means for rotating said body, means for varying the relative speeds of areas of roadway rapidlyand with a controlled l below said aperture, means for rotating said body,

mally maintaining said closure element in closing said material delivering means and said circular body, means on the upper side of said body for throwing granular material received thereon through said outlet aperture radially of said body responsive to rotation thereof, means for shifting said body vertically between positions thereof wherein said body respectively closes said outlet aperture and is spaced therebelow. said casing having an excess material release aperture in the upper portion thereof, an outwardly deflectable closure element normally closing said release aperture, and yieldable means normally maintaining said closure element in closing relation with said release aperture.

4. Road sanding apparatus comprising, a wheeled vehicle, a casing on said vehicle for containing granular material and having a circular material outlet aperture in the lower side thereof, power operated means for continuously delivering granular material into said casing, a circular body disposed below said aperture, means for rotating said body, means for varying the rel ative speeds of said material `delivering means and said circular body, means on the upper side of said body for throwing granular material received thereon through said outlet aperture radi- 5. Road sanding apparatus comprising, a

wheeled vehicle, a casing for containing granularl material supported on said vehicle, said casing having a lower portion situated medially between respective sides of the vehicle and respective other portions converging downwardly from oprial into said lower portion at diametrically opposite sides thereof, a hopper on said vehicle for containing a relatively large supply of granular 7,'Road sanding apparatus comprising, a

wheeled automotive vehicle, a casing for containing granular material supported on-l the forward end of said vehicle, said casing having a lower portion situated medially between respective sides of the vehicle and respective other portions converging downwardly from opposite sides of the vehicle into said lower portion to constitute ducts for delivering granular material into said lower posite sides of the vehicle into saidA lower portion to constitute ducts for delivering granular matematerial, a pair of conveyer means leading from v said hopper into the upperportions of said respective ducts and arranged for continuous conveying of granular material, the lower side of said lower portion of the casing having a circular aperture therein for exit of granular material from said casing, a circular body disposed below said aperture yin co-axial relation therewith, a vertical shaft disposed co-axially of said body in non-rotatable relation therewith, means for rotating said shaft, means for shiftingv said body vertically between respective positions thereof wherein said body respectively closes said aperture and -is spaced therebelow, and means on the upper'side of said body for throwing granular material radially of said -body responsive to rotation thereof. f l

6. Road sanding apparatuscomprising, a wheeled vehicle, a casing for containing granular material supported on said vehicle, said casing having a lower portion situated medially between respective sides of the vehicle and respective other portions converging downwardly from op- -V posite sides of the vehicle into said lower portion portion at diametrically opposite sides thereof, a hopper carried on the rear portion of said vehicle for containing a relatively large supply of granular material, a pair ofconveyor means leading froml opposite sides of the hopper along corresponding sides of said vehicle into the upper portions of the corresponding ones of said respective ducts and arranged for continuous conveying of granular material from said hopper into said respective ducts, the lower side of said lower portion of the casing having a circular aperture therein for exit of granular material from said casing, a circular body generally approximating said aperture in diameter disposed below saidl aperture in substantially co-axial-relation therewith, means for rotating said body, and'means on the upper side of said body for throwing granular material received -through said aperture radially of said body responsive to rotation thereof.

8. Road sanding apparatus comprising, a

wheeled automotive vehicle, a casing for containing granular material supported on the forward Aend of said vehicle, said casing having a lower portion situated medially between respective sides of the vehicle and respective other portions converging downwardly from opposite sides andz' toward said respective openings, a pair of conveyor means leading 4from said respective hopper outlet openings along corresponding sides of the vehicle into the upper portions of the corresponding ones of said respective ducts and arranged to be operable Ato effect continuous conveying of granular material from'said hopper into said ducts, the lower portion of the casing having an aperture therein for exit of granular material from said casing, and apparatusassociated with said aperture for throwing granular material therefrom over a surface along which said vehicle is traveling.

EDWARD T. STEWART. 

